right, rodgers robert benjamin sunlansarlan, morkiver, dana wolbank, thomas cook, andrew schneider, maryland to >> -- marilyn, del loveless, jim offstra, and a labor reporter for bloomberg news. [applause] don blankenship is one of the country's most talked-about co's because of his extensive involvement in local and state politics. but in recent months, he has been at the center of news stories and congressional investigations related to a disaster at his company's other big french mine in moscow, was virginia -- montcoal, west virginia. before the mine explosion, he was the subject of a book, "cold river." as a child in deaf west virginia, he had no indoor plumbing. as a young man, you work in a coal mine to put himlf through college. he became an accountant and which is way up to head the country's fourthargest coal company. with current legislation making its way through congress and investigations continuing, mr. blankenship continue to be a figure in the news this year. he is here to discuss his views on the need for more surface mining. please welcome don blankenship. >> i want to tha